The X-Files 3x24: Talitha Cumi
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tori_reviewsThe X-Files 3x24: Talitha Cumi
I sort of wish I wasn’t planning to stop and do some end of season thoughts; almost wish I was reviewing this two-parter (I think it’s just two this time) as one episode. This episode doesn’t really feel like an episode, it feels like a pretty drawn out first third-to-half an episode. Everything is very slow and...not exactly bland, but a bit muted. I can’t quite call it meandering, because it gives the impression of going somewhere (although I kind of doubt they really knew where) but it’s in no hurry to get there.
I don’t know if I liked this episode or not, and I know I won’t figure it out until I see the rest of it because it’s so little of a full story. As a single episode I’d have to call it out on that fact, but it was clearly never meant to be taken as a single episode (again, even though I highly doubt they had the second part planned out).
In theory I don’t mind slower episodes, and I definitely wish we got more that dealt with these characters’ lives when they’re not chasing aliens; had a better understanding of their families and stuff. That we’ve only gotten half a dozen episodes across three seasons that show us anything about Mulder’s family history that is so fundamental to what drives him, is something I would really appreciate seeing changed (same goes for Scully, though her family history is less central to the main story). I do think as a season finale it’s not the best time, and it’s definitely a bad time to slow the pace down to a crawl to have it.
Even the fight scene between Mulder and X felt bland and hollow. I think it is poorly directed, this isn’t often a show for hand-to-hand combat, usually a foot chase scene and a couple gunshots here and there are what’s used when people aren’t falling to their deaths or taken out by their own power somehow. Even this time the tension goes up once the guns come out; before that, they guys look like actors who don’t really know how to stage a fight-scene and aren’t allowed to actually hurt each other; which of course is what they are.
With the main plot (such as it is) moving so slowly, there is no reason not to have a Scully plot added to this story, but there isn’t one. They sort of tried for a bit, to have her dealing with the Jeremiah Smith investigation, but Mulder had to come back and highjack that plot too. If you’re going to keep them in separate plots, then let them be in their separate plots and bring them to the same place at the end. If you’re going to keep them working off each other, then Scully should have been with Mulder dealing with Teena’s situation since she can keep a clear head and speak with the doctors and also comfort Mulder (plus elevating the acting level).
I can’t decide if I like the scenes between Smith and Smokey or not. I think I would like them more if I believed they indicated a change in how this story worked. I’m not opposed to seeing how the Conspiracy in general and Smokey specifically view what they do, but then it’s time to be honest about what they do because I know enough of the general shape of the arc down the line, I can see seeds being planted here, but it’s so deliberately cagey in the moment. Also, yeah, Smokey was chain-smoking in every scene he was in here, that he’s dying of lung cancer isn’t hard to believe (except that I know he won’t).
Also, I really have to ask how and why Smith came to Scully at the end. This could be setup for something, if it’s tied to her abduction or something; but as is it just seems convenient. We know it’s good-Smith because the Alien Bounty Hunter is after him at the end; but good-Smith was not the one who knew she was looking into this case. Also, long term, since Smith must be here in order to cure Teena and Cancerman’s cancer, could he do something for Scully while he’s here?
Question, who owns the Mulders’ summer house? If it’s Teena, why didn’t she sell it over the years? If Bill owned it, why didn’t he sell it rather than let it sit empty all these years? If it was Bill, I assume Fox owns it now, then why hasn’t he sold it or gone through it? Yes I get caught up on property ownership, it was distracting.
I have half formed thoughts on the meeting between Mulder and Smith at the end. Mulder putting the option of helping his mother above his own questions feels important to note. But considering his clearly mistrusting attitude I think he must have some questions he wants addressed first, and considering there is going to be drive time involved, there’s nothing stopping him from doing both. I want this to be showing him having figured out back in ‘One Breath’ that he’s more dedicated to the people he loves than tilting at windmills, but it doesn’t have the punch of that where it should.
Also, what does Scully think is going on when Mulder walks in demanding to know how to contact Smokey, and Skinner’s response that he might have been able to give it in the past, but not anymore? Sure, the two of them know what they’re talking about, but did anyone tell Scully?
I’m not sure this episode would have had me anxious for the show coming back in s4; even the cliffhanger is just kind of dull and plodding. Since I can carry on as soon as I get the closing thoughts written, I’m curious to see what the rest of the story is, but there was nothing that I would just need to see resolved. So, definitely not a great episode even if I’m reserving judgement on the story.
Previous status
Never seen before, there were a lot of those this season
The gang that’s here
Skinner, Smokey, Teena, X, the Alien Bounty Hunter, brief appearances by Deep Throat and Bill Mulder; I can’t recall if Smith is a recurring thing or not.
Revolving door of death
Technically I could maybe count the people Smith saved at the beginning; but that’s not really what this is for. It sort of depends on if Smith was channeling Bill and Deep Throat or just morphing into them to...I guess guilt Smokey?
Are they in love?
I could swear we’ve been backsliding on this question all season, in s2 my answer was often yes, but this season it mostly isn’t. Some of that is my surrounding opinions, and some of it I think is the writers pulling back. And if I thought it was deliberate in story, that the two of them had some reason for being more separate and less together, I’d be all over that idea. But right now I’m not even sure they’re that great of partners, much less do I really believe Scully is that with which Mulder cannot live without (considering I feel like I haven’t used that line once this season that’s telling).
Who’s driving?
Mulder. Also, what did Scully and Smith talk about on their drive out to meet him at the end?
What’s the FBI’s travel budget?
What is the travel time between DC and Rhode Island? Mulder goes back and forth a lot. This is a less a budget concern and more just curious about the convenient timing. Also, why is Skinner calling to tell Mulder about his mom? I’ll accept that in the days before ubiquitous cell phones the hospital could have left a message for him at work and it got passed along, but why is the AD doing it?
People allowed to call Mulder Fox
Smokey; I’m not sure it’s allowed so much as done very significantly.
Who’s your daddy?
Smokey is totally Mulder’s father. I don’t think Mulder’s caught on yet (although saying with great significance that he’s known your mother since before you were born is definite food for thought) but it’s practically spelled out for the audience in him and Teena’s scene. That said, with that in mind, she should definitely know his name (when he called, who did he say it was on the phone?); Fox should probably know his name depending on at what point he stopped being so close to the Mulder family that he hung out at their summer house.
Are we saying it’s aliens?
I don’t remember the word being used, even in Smokey and Smith’s scenes, but Smith and his kind are clearly said to be something other than human. Aliens or gods or something; with shape-changing and healing powers.
How crazy does Mulder sound?
While he is clutching at straws for assuming there’s a correlation between Teena’s condition and Smith’s actions at the restaurant, it’s presented as him being disturbed by what happened to his mother, and it’s a natural human reaction to try and find a reason for the bad things that happen. And I feel like that’s how Scully treats it; sympathetic, but he’s not right to assume that. As soon as he pulled the note back out at the house I made the connection to lamps before he did, but I made the leap through the fourth wall, with pure Doyalist reasoning, so I think it’s a big stretch for him to make it in character. But at the same time I’m glad I didn’t have to wait too long for him to get on that same page, so I kind of let it slide though I acknowledge there’s no reason for him to have been right. I’m also kind of glad he didn’t immediately pick the right lamp, but that gives us time to reflect on him smashing up lamps on this hunch.
Mulder’s guilt complex check in
He’s blaming himself for Teena’s state, seeking out guilt one might even say.
Can DD act?
I’m revising my opinion from back in ‘End Game,’ I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that it was the direction but here we’re pretty clear that crying scenes are not a strength of his. Otherwise, I can’t say he’s good here, but he’s not too bad. I don’t think he quite knows how to pitch his scenes, but he’s faking it more effectively than he did last time.
I sort of wish I wasn’t planning to stop and do some end of season thoughts; almost wish I was reviewing this two-parter (I think it’s just two this time) as one episode. This episode doesn’t really feel like an episode, it feels like a pretty drawn out first third-to-half an episode. Everything is very slow and...not exactly bland, but a bit muted. I can’t quite call it meandering, because it gives the impression of going somewhere (although I kind of doubt they really knew where) but it’s in no hurry to get there.
I don’t know if I liked this episode or not, and I know I won’t figure it out until I see the rest of it because it’s so little of a full story. As a single episode I’d have to call it out on that fact, but it was clearly never meant to be taken as a single episode (again, even though I highly doubt they had the second part planned out).
In theory I don’t mind slower episodes, and I definitely wish we got more that dealt with these characters’ lives when they’re not chasing aliens; had a better understanding of their families and stuff. That we’ve only gotten half a dozen episodes across three seasons that show us anything about Mulder’s family history that is so fundamental to what drives him, is something I would really appreciate seeing changed (same goes for Scully, though her family history is less central to the main story). I do think as a season finale it’s not the best time, and it’s definitely a bad time to slow the pace down to a crawl to have it.
Even the fight scene between Mulder and X felt bland and hollow. I think it is poorly directed, this isn’t often a show for hand-to-hand combat, usually a foot chase scene and a couple gunshots here and there are what’s used when people aren’t falling to their deaths or taken out by their own power somehow. Even this time the tension goes up once the guns come out; before that, they guys look like actors who don’t really know how to stage a fight-scene and aren’t allowed to actually hurt each other; which of course is what they are.
With the main plot (such as it is) moving so slowly, there is no reason not to have a Scully plot added to this story, but there isn’t one. They sort of tried for a bit, to have her dealing with the Jeremiah Smith investigation, but Mulder had to come back and highjack that plot too. If you’re going to keep them in separate plots, then let them be in their separate plots and bring them to the same place at the end. If you’re going to keep them working off each other, then Scully should have been with Mulder dealing with Teena’s situation since she can keep a clear head and speak with the doctors and also comfort Mulder (plus elevating the acting level).
I can’t decide if I like the scenes between Smith and Smokey or not. I think I would like them more if I believed they indicated a change in how this story worked. I’m not opposed to seeing how the Conspiracy in general and Smokey specifically view what they do, but then it’s time to be honest about what they do because I know enough of the general shape of the arc down the line, I can see seeds being planted here, but it’s so deliberately cagey in the moment. Also, yeah, Smokey was chain-smoking in every scene he was in here, that he’s dying of lung cancer isn’t hard to believe (except that I know he won’t).
Also, I really have to ask how and why Smith came to Scully at the end. This could be setup for something, if it’s tied to her abduction or something; but as is it just seems convenient. We know it’s good-Smith because the Alien Bounty Hunter is after him at the end; but good-Smith was not the one who knew she was looking into this case. Also, long term, since Smith must be here in order to cure Teena and Cancerman’s cancer, could he do something for Scully while he’s here?
Question, who owns the Mulders’ summer house? If it’s Teena, why didn’t she sell it over the years? If Bill owned it, why didn’t he sell it rather than let it sit empty all these years? If it was Bill, I assume Fox owns it now, then why hasn’t he sold it or gone through it? Yes I get caught up on property ownership, it was distracting.
I have half formed thoughts on the meeting between Mulder and Smith at the end. Mulder putting the option of helping his mother above his own questions feels important to note. But considering his clearly mistrusting attitude I think he must have some questions he wants addressed first, and considering there is going to be drive time involved, there’s nothing stopping him from doing both. I want this to be showing him having figured out back in ‘One Breath’ that he’s more dedicated to the people he loves than tilting at windmills, but it doesn’t have the punch of that where it should.
Also, what does Scully think is going on when Mulder walks in demanding to know how to contact Smokey, and Skinner’s response that he might have been able to give it in the past, but not anymore? Sure, the two of them know what they’re talking about, but did anyone tell Scully?
I’m not sure this episode would have had me anxious for the show coming back in s4; even the cliffhanger is just kind of dull and plodding. Since I can carry on as soon as I get the closing thoughts written, I’m curious to see what the rest of the story is, but there was nothing that I would just need to see resolved. So, definitely not a great episode even if I’m reserving judgement on the story.
Previous status
Never seen before, there were a lot of those this season
The gang that’s here
Skinner, Smokey, Teena, X, the Alien Bounty Hunter, brief appearances by Deep Throat and Bill Mulder; I can’t recall if Smith is a recurring thing or not.
Revolving door of death
Technically I could maybe count the people Smith saved at the beginning; but that’s not really what this is for. It sort of depends on if Smith was channeling Bill and Deep Throat or just morphing into them to...I guess guilt Smokey?
Are they in love?
I could swear we’ve been backsliding on this question all season, in s2 my answer was often yes, but this season it mostly isn’t. Some of that is my surrounding opinions, and some of it I think is the writers pulling back. And if I thought it was deliberate in story, that the two of them had some reason for being more separate and less together, I’d be all over that idea. But right now I’m not even sure they’re that great of partners, much less do I really believe Scully is that with which Mulder cannot live without (considering I feel like I haven’t used that line once this season that’s telling).
Who’s driving?
Mulder. Also, what did Scully and Smith talk about on their drive out to meet him at the end?
What’s the FBI’s travel budget?
What is the travel time between DC and Rhode Island? Mulder goes back and forth a lot. This is a less a budget concern and more just curious about the convenient timing. Also, why is Skinner calling to tell Mulder about his mom? I’ll accept that in the days before ubiquitous cell phones the hospital could have left a message for him at work and it got passed along, but why is the AD doing it?
People allowed to call Mulder Fox
Smokey; I’m not sure it’s allowed so much as done very significantly.
Who’s your daddy?
Smokey is totally Mulder’s father. I don’t think Mulder’s caught on yet (although saying with great significance that he’s known your mother since before you were born is definite food for thought) but it’s practically spelled out for the audience in him and Teena’s scene. That said, with that in mind, she should definitely know his name (when he called, who did he say it was on the phone?); Fox should probably know his name depending on at what point he stopped being so close to the Mulder family that he hung out at their summer house.
Are we saying it’s aliens?
I don’t remember the word being used, even in Smokey and Smith’s scenes, but Smith and his kind are clearly said to be something other than human. Aliens or gods or something; with shape-changing and healing powers.
How crazy does Mulder sound?
While he is clutching at straws for assuming there’s a correlation between Teena’s condition and Smith’s actions at the restaurant, it’s presented as him being disturbed by what happened to his mother, and it’s a natural human reaction to try and find a reason for the bad things that happen. And I feel like that’s how Scully treats it; sympathetic, but he’s not right to assume that. As soon as he pulled the note back out at the house I made the connection to lamps before he did, but I made the leap through the fourth wall, with pure Doyalist reasoning, so I think it’s a big stretch for him to make it in character. But at the same time I’m glad I didn’t have to wait too long for him to get on that same page, so I kind of let it slide though I acknowledge there’s no reason for him to have been right. I’m also kind of glad he didn’t immediately pick the right lamp, but that gives us time to reflect on him smashing up lamps on this hunch.
Mulder’s guilt complex check in
He’s blaming himself for Teena’s state, seeking out guilt one might even say.
Can DD act?
I’m revising my opinion from back in ‘End Game,’ I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that it was the direction but here we’re pretty clear that crying scenes are not a strength of his. Otherwise, I can’t say he’s good here, but he’s not too bad. I don’t think he quite knows how to pitch his scenes, but he’s faking it more effectively than he did last time.
